IMR Press / FBL / Volume 19 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.2741/4230

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Review
The breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA) in breast and ovarian cancers
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1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2014, 19(4), 605–618; https://doi.org/10.2741/4230
Published: 1 January 2014
Abstract

The Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are the dynamic regulators of genomic integrity. Inherited mutations in these genes are associated with the development of cancer in multiple organs including the breast and ovary. Mutations of BRCA1/2 genes greatly increase lifetime risk to develop breast and ovarian cancer and these mutations are frequently observed in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. In addition, misregulation and altered expressions of BRCA1/2 proteins potentiate sporadic forms of breast cancer. In particular, both genes contribute to DNA repair and transcriptional regulation in response to DNA damage. Thus, deficiencies of BRCA1/2 functions lead to the accumulation of genetic alterations and ultimately influence the development of cancer. Studies since identification of both BRCA1 and BRCA2 have provided strong evidences for their tumor suppressor activities specifically for breast and ovarian cancer and this article aims to review the current state of knowledge regarding the BRCAs and associated cancer risk.

Keywords
BRCA1
BRCA2
Breast Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Review
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